17-Year-Old Female Driver Makes NASCAR History With Win

Hailie Deegan became the first woman to capture a victory at a K&N Pro Series race.

Hailie Deegan, driver of the #19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota, celebrates her first victory at the conclusion of the NASCAR K&N Series West NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208 at Meridian Speedway on September 29, 2018 in Meridian, Idaho. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Hailie Deegan, driver of the #19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota, celebrates her first victory at the conclusion of the NASCAR K&N Series West NAPA Auto Parts Idaho 208 at Meridian Speedway on September 29, 2018 in Meridian, Idaho. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Getty Images for NASCAR

On Saturday night, Hailie Deegan became the first female driver to win in the K&N Pro Series when she took the checkered flag in the NAPA Auto Parts/Idaho 208 race at Meridian Speedway in Idaho.

And she did it at the age of 17.

In only her 18th career race, Deegan took the lead from Bill McAnally Racing teammate Cole Rouse on the white-flag lap to capture the win.

Earlier in the week,  Deegan had tweeted out her goals for the year. As it turns out, it took her less time to complete them than anyone would have thought.

“Oh my god,” Deegan said in Victory Lane. “This has to be the best day of my life right here. It doesn’t get any better than this. People don’t understand how many days, how many hours I’ve put into this. How much work I’ve done to get to this moment. It’s just amazing … this is the happiest day of my life. We did it.”

Through 12 of 14 K&N Pro Series West races, Deegan has five top-five finishes and 10 top-10s, along with her win. Deegan and the series will return to the track October 13 in California.

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